10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2021

If you had your choice of one bird family to pursue, to seek out and observe and photograph and kvell over, which one would you choose? A passion for one bird family is also very useful. Like all talented travel writers, Dunn is adept at drawing us into his experiences.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica Brazil Ecuador Bolivia 264

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2016

I’d been volunteering at rescues through my young adulthood, and I was training as a cat socializer, teaching terrified felines — the unlucky victims of cruel people — to trust humans again. All of these afflictions are human-caused and largely preventable. It’s tribal and familial. One typical, blue-sky, L.A. I was mortified.

Cats 215

Cats Stray Cat Stray Wildlife Rehabilitation 215

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2012

In the event I’m in a life or death struggle with an Oregon Junco or a particularly feral Dunnock I’d rather my birding companion was at least nominally on my side. It’s an unnerving experience and not at all pleasant even if the bird doesn’t connect often, and I am no stranger to bird attacks.

New Zealand 153

New Zealand Birds Australia Kangaroos 153

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2013

The general public is out and about, birds and animals are raising their young, and human/wildlife interaction is at its peak. I wish for a federal law prohibiting domestic and feral cats from roaming free outdoors. Monte in California agreed: “I’d like some time just to watch healthy wild families.”. Summer is high season.

Wildlife 249

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Oklahoma New York 249

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2011

Many a birding trip starts with a longish drive from the airport to the first birding site with these common roadside birds being the first taste you get of a country’s wildlife, and I feel that many bird trip reports, interested mostly in mega-rarities, gloss over the amazing experience this first drive can give.

New Zealand 177

New Zealand Birds Thailand Falcons 177

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Experiments in the field (the famed Asa Wright Nature Center veranda) involving Bananaquits and bananas came up with numbers ranging from 7 to 16, but a tanager always came along to interfere with Bananaquits’ noisy appreciation of their namesake fruit. Even during the breeding season the birds appear to be quite unwary of humans.

Trinidad 199

Trinidad Birds South America Research 199